Afghan forces must stop calling for NATO air support: Karzai

Afghan president Hamid Karzai on Saturday urged Afghan national security institutions to prevent calling for air support from NATO-led coalition security forces during the military operations.

While speaking during his visit to national military academy of Afghanistan president Karzai said that a number of civilians were killed or injured recently after Afghan security forces called for air support in Kunar province of Afghanistan.

He said that a presidential decree will be issued in this regard in the near future.

A Nato airstrike killed 10 Afghan civilians, including five children, in eastern Afghanistan last Wednesday. Civilian deaths in air strikes have been one of the most emotive and high-profile issues of the war in Afghanistan, although in recent years UN statistics show that the Taliban have caused the majority of civilian casualties.

The strike, in the Shigal district of Kunar province, was condemned by Karzai, who expressed his condolences to the families and announced the deaths would be investigated by Afghan authorities.

president Hamid Karzai also summoned NATO commander Gen. Joseph Dunford in regards to the incident. Four Taliban fighters were also killed in the strike and five civilians wounded. The strike occurred in the village of Chawgam and the 10 dead civilians were from two local families.